About

Jesper Krijgsman constructs supernatural landscapes where dreams and biology blend together. His detailed collages are so vividly realised, one could almost step into these compositions and explore his paradisiacal dreamscapes.

Self-taught Dutch visual artist Jesper Krijgsman assembles his photographed natural ­elements ­digitally to create detailed worlds that depict scenes in which the mystical qualities of the ­natural world are magnified.

Photographing, ­editing, and ­especially ­learning about the ­subjects he puts in front of his lens, provides a hands-on ­experience that strengthens his connection to the ­natural world.

Through his work, he strives to present the viewer with more than a beautiful image, but also to find resonance between the ­viewers' emotion and the flora and fauna depicted.

He hopes his vision contributes to a realisation that nature ­possesses a form of emotional intelligence through its evolutionary ­process and that all living organisms are capable of empathy and thrive when living beside another harmoniously.­

Working on this project gave him a new appreciation for the natural world. That is, through learning about the ingenuity of the emergence of all life forms we see today through some form of evolutionary magic and as well the ­interpretation of nature on an emotional level and exploration of natural landscapes we might encounter in dreams. 

Jesper was born in 1992 and lives in Amsterdam where he works as a graphic designer and visual artist.

Interview la botanica magazine

Supernatural Landscapes by Jesper Krijgsman @jesper.krijgsman Zurich, Switzerland
Interview by Contributing Editor: Olya Titova

La Botanica: What is the idea behind the mystical gardens? In what way is this concept reflected in your artworks?

Jesper Krijgsman: I’ve always been fascinated with visual storytelling and especially digital image editing techniques. I’ve also discovered an inner passion for nature. During my travels, I’ve encountered places that truly felt enchanting. I believe that this magical part of nature is something that is often overlooked these days. For example, the distinctive look of a particular plant is the result of its evolutionary process, or the behavior of certain animals is the result of the adaptation to their environment.

I try to convey an emotion in my work. I challenge myself to do this solely using natural and organic material. I believe that people have an emotional reaction to plants and flowers as soon as they realize it is living matter, that they have to overcome obstacles just as we do.

Although there are scientific explanations for these qualities, I’m often amazed by its creativity and diversity. I try to reflect this ingenuity in my work and explore realms in which this mystical inventiveness is untouched and amplified. In my process of editing my photographed material and placing it onto my digital canvas, I try to let go of everything around me and place my elements based on my intuition. Basically, I am mirroring a landscape that starts to grow: it often changes its course based on its interactions and takes its time before it gets finished.

LB: You are a professional graphic designer. How does the process of art-making connect and interact with this occupation?

JK: My profession of a graphic designer goes hand in hand with my artistic journey. I’m used to working with image editing programs on a daily basis. In the process of making my early graphic design work, I learned that I lean towards complex design rather than a minimalistic approach. This tendency didn’t always help me in the making of the graphic work, I was often asked to reduce details in the designs I made. I think that those commentaries fueled my desire to work on something without any constraints, something opposite of minimalism. I challenged myself to work with unconventional material in the digital world. Today I feel that my work is perfectly balanced between the job of a graphic designer in a communication agency and my own projects.

In my work, I try to celebrate the diversity of all that is living, not just it’s beauty, but it’s intelligence and ingenuity.

LB: What is your favorite part about working with flowers?

JK: During my process of photographing plants and animals, I get an intimate look at its properties. I get really excited when in the process of looking for new material to work with, I discover some unique shapes and colors that I have never noticed before. Since everything in nature serves a purpose, I start to imagine how this living being has developed itself into what it is today. I try to convey an emotion in my work. I challenge myself to do this solely using natural and organic material. I believe that people have an emotional reaction to plants and flowers as soon as they realize it is living matter, that they have to overcome obstacles just as we do. In my work, I try to celebrate the diversity of all that is living, not just it’s beauty, but it’s intelligence and ingenuity.

Curriculum vitae

2020

Owner/Artist

,

Studio Jesper Krijgsman

,

Zurich/Amsterdam

2019

Graphic designer

,

Lacher, Gruber & Ianeselli

,

Zurich, CH

2018

Graphic designer

,

LINE Communications

,

Zurich, CH

2017

Graphic designer

,

Lacher-Dumas Communications

,

Zurich, CH

2016

Design internship

,

Lacher-Dumas Communications

,

Zurich, CH

2015

Design internship

,

FACES Magazine

,

Zurich, CH

Education

Present

Communication & multimedia design (bachelor),

Leidse onderwijsinstellingen,

NL

2015

Preparatory design course,

Zurich University of Arts,

Zurich, CH

2010

Higher secondary general education (HAVO),

Tabor College Oscar Romero,

Hoorn, NL

Exhibitions

2023

Group exhibition, Flora Grafica at Flower Art Museum,

Aalsmeer, NL

2022

Group exhibition, Artful Bloom at LUMAS Gallery,

Toronto, CA

2021

Group exhibition, EUPHORIA at Dutch Design Hotel Artemis,

Amsterdam, NL

2021

Group exhibition, Hilton Zurich Airport,

Zurich, CH

2021

Group exhibition, photoSCHWEIZ Summer Edition,

Zurich, CH

2020

Group exhibition, Fresh from Zurich,

Zurich, CH

2019

Group exhibition, Photobastei,

Zurich, CH

Awards and distinctions

2019

Adobe Design Achievement Awards,

Top Talent 2019

Adobe Design Achievement Awards,

2015

Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung,

Stipendien,

Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung,

Zurich, CH

2015

Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung,

Annual report title page competition,

Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung,

Zurich, CH

Select press and publications

2023

Interview Display Magazine Switzerland, Interview Display Magazine Switzerland,

DISPLAY Magazin Schweiz,

40 - 45,

#147, May 2023,

German

2023

LUMAS Art Magazine 2023, LUMAS Art Magazine 2023,

Lumas Art Magazine,

16,

01/2023,

English

2022

WADM Art Book: 10 Years of Art, WADM Art Book: 10 Years of Art,

Werk aan de Muur,

Cover, 8, 136-137,

English

2022

LUMAS Art Magazine 2022, LUMAS Art Magazine 2022,

LUMAS Art Magazine,

60,

01/2022,

English

2019

Werk Aan De Muur Magazine, Werk Aan De Muur Magazine,

Werk Aan De Muur,

(pages 2, 12-15, 62),

Issue 5, Autumn 2019,

Dutch

2019

DIGITAL GARDENS, DIGITAL GARDENS,

La Botanica Magazine,

(page 31),

#4, 2019,

English

2019

Photoreview - Jesper Krijgsman, Photoreview - Jesper Krijgsman,

EYE-Photo Magazine,

(pages 112-119),

January 2019,

English

2018

Werk Aan De Muur Magazine, Werk Aan De Muur Magazine,

Werk Aan De Muur,

(pages 8-9),

Issue 4, Autumn 2018,

Dutch

2018

March 2018 Issue, March 2018 Issue,

BrAM Magazine,

(page 38),

Dutch

2017

Persbericht 2017, Persbericht 2017,

VTWonen & Design Beurs,

Dutch

2017

Werk Aan De Muur Magazine, Werk Aan De Muur Magazine,

Werk Aan De Muur,

(pages 1, 6-7),

Issue 3, Autumn 2017,

Dutch

2017

Portfolio: Jesper Krijgsman, Portfolio: Jesper Krijgsman,

Photoshop Magazine,

(pages 16-21),

#51,

Dutch

2017

Digital Botanics, Digital Botanics,

Natuurfotografie.nl,

Dutch